Comber



J. S. DUDLEY ET AL April 15, 1952 COMBER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Nov. v150, 1946 April 15, 1952 J. s. DUDLEY ET AL 2,593,017 l COMBER f Filed NOV. 50, 1946 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 5 ieu 74" 'I @in y INVE TORS /0/w 5. umfr ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE-g.

Whitinsville, Mass., assignqrs to VWhitin Machine Works, Whitinsville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts I Application November 30, 19446, serial No. `713,304v

` a claims. (C1. 19 12o This 'invention relates to Heilmannl type combers and more particularly to the nipper systems of such combers as exemplified, for example, in Crockett Patent No. 2,384,603,

The primary object of the invention is a much simplied organization of the components and associated parts of the nipper system, having the advantages of improving the combing action and also :achieving such a smooth motion for the nippers as to reduce vibration to a minimum and permit the comber to operate at higher speeds4 than heretofore, all as hereinafter fully described; Other objects and advantagesof the invention'will later be apparent. 1

In the drawings and for purposesof illustraftion only, the invention is shown in its presently preferred form, Fig. 1 being a side elevation, partly in section, of so much of the comber. as

f is'necessary to an understanding of the improvements, Fig. 2 a plan lview of the nippersystem, Fig. 31a broken out view correspondingto Fig. 1 but with the nipper system components in a different position and Fig. 4 a perspective View of a part of the top comb and of its support.

Ati is indicated the usual oscillating Wag shaft by'which the nippers are advanced toward and retracted from the detaching rolls 2 above the needles 3 of comb cylinder 4. The upper nipper, or nipper knife, is marked 5 and the lower nipper,` or cushion plate, is marked S.

. As appears from the above-mentioned Crockett `Patent No. 2,384,603, the path of the nipper jaws or, more specifically, of the front edge of the cushion plate is,` in that organization, ,virtually a straight line and slightly up-grade` in the direction-of advance of the nippers toward the detaching rolls. While such an arrangement is not inappropriate so far as piecing is concerned, the combing action is much less effective than that achieved when the fringe or leading edge of the lap, while the -lap is still gripped by the nippers, isl caused to follow a path which is more or less concentric to the comb cylinder. The

ei-feet ofthe .latter is to Amorenearly equalize the penetration of the lap by andthe combing action of substantially al1 of thef`rows`of comb cylinder needles. In the preferred arrangement herein illustrated, the leading edge of' cushion 'plate is caused to traverse a path which is highly eiective `from the standpoint of both combing :and piecing.

With the` foregoing in view the nipper frame l is supported or cradled on front and rear supports in the nature of rock arms. At or adjacent its forward end the frame is supported by a form of radiusarm which is pivoted belowl or on the 'comb cylinder side ofthe path of .movement of the frame and to the rear of the comb cylinder axis. As shown, rods 8, 9, pivoted at their, 'lower ,ends on the comber frame I!)A` (rod 8 asat II, Fig. l) extend up at oppositesides of the nipper frame and carry adjustable heads I2, I3 in which lnipper frame gudgeons I4, I5 are supported. By adjusting the heads I2, I 31onfthe rods 8, 9, the clearance between the cushion plate `(which is bolted to thejnipper frame); and the needles 3, canbe varied'atwill. f i 1 f At its rear, ,the nipper frame isfsuitably'supframe) which` maybe secured directly to'the wag shaft I. vWhereas thepivot center of 'the front support is below, the center about which the wag shaft oscillates is above or on the opposite side of the path of movement of the nipper frame. Oscillation of the vWag shaft thus reciprocates the nipper frame toward andffroin the detaching` rolls. By reason ofthe dualjpivotal support of the nipper frame, the leading edge of theA cushion plate is caused to Atraverse an arcuate path (as indicated bythe dot-da'slivline in'Fig. 1) of which that portion dei-inedby the portion A is substantiallyA concentric witlifthe combcylinder, while the balancefof the st rke is 4a flatter arc. Throughout the concentricporf tion ofthe Aarc the nippers are closed andaba'- cause of the concentricity, most effective comb.- ing is achieved; whereas at the forward. end 'of the stroke the leading edge of the cushio'nbplate moves outwardly, orA upwardly, on arcurve'fof greater radius and the lapvfringe is therebyi'a'p'- propriately laid on thepreviously combdtuft. The result is improved combing andun'iform piscine- Y i f -The nipper knife is indirectly mountedlcnthe nipper frame, being bolted to the forwardends of levers Il, I8 which are pivotally supported at I9, 2i),` on nipper frame bosses 2I'22';` and provision is madefor utilizing the wag shaft "osvc :illation` to rock the levers I1.: I8 in relation'gtlo the lnipper frame, to effect 4the opening `(and closing)` of the nippers. For lsuch purpose, the rearends of vlevers I1, I8V are coupled to the rear.-

ward vcrank memberextensions 23, 24. This coupling is of such a characterlas to providel'o'stmotion, in one direction, topermit the required degree of `'forward travel of the nippers. while closed, and to provide, also, a rm, resilient'grip of the nippers on the lap, while closed.

Such a coupling (of which there is one on each 2,593,017 j 'j j side of the frame but they are identical) may conveniently consist of an element or stem 25, pivoted at its lower end on the rear end of lever i1 and having pinned to or otherwise located adjacent its upper end a cap 26. Within a shell or housing 21, which is pivotally mounted on crank extension. 23, is a spring 28, the spring bearing at its upper end against cap 26-and at its lower end against the lower end Wall of its housing.,

The parts are so adjusted that when the nipper frame is in its retracted position (Fig. 1) there is clearance between the bottom of housing 21 and adjustment nut 29, and spring -28 is'substantially compressed. As will be recognized, the upward thrust of the spring at this time, applied through cap 26, stem 25 and lever I1, holds the nipper crank member I6 to advance the nipper frame, the spring-closed condition of the nippers will continueA until housing 21 engages nut .29 and, in itsl further movement, serves as an actuator element to rockA lever l1 in relation to the nipper frame and thereby raises the nipper knife from the cushion plate (Fig. 3). On the return oscillation of the Wag shaft to retract the frame, the nipper knife'is lowered by the action of spring 28 andits firm engagement with the cushion plate is insured by reason of the fact that, following the closing of the nippers, the final upward movement of housing 21, in its return to the Fig. 1 position,y compresses spring 28 and, thereby, increases the pressure applied by it to the nipper knife;l It will be readily apparent that these nipper frame and nipper knife motions and their mode of control and coordination are such that they can be operated with a minimum of vibration and, hence, at high speed. Finally, the described organization and nipper frame motion lends itself to an extremely simple mounting arrangement whereby the top comb is-carried directly and solely by the nipper frame. As shown particularly in Fig. 4, the top comb comprises a plate or body portion 39 the upper, marginal portion of which is bent over to form am flange 3l. The inner faces of the two side members comprising the nipper frame are slotted as at 32, the slots being flared at their upper endsl forA ease of entry; and the comb is applied -to the nipper frame simply by lowering it into ,the slots; The top comb is thus located in fixed relation to the nipper frame so far as its traversing motion is concerned. vertically, the top comb isA located by adjustable studs 33 Which bear against the top of the cross member of the nipper frame and thereby hold the comb lsuspended at its required height,

It being understood that the principles of the invention are susceptible of embodiment in various forms, the following is claimed.

We claim:

1. In. a comber including a comb cylinder, nipper'frame and Wag shaft, the combination of a; crankA arm depending from the Wag shaft and connected directly to a rear part of the nipper frame, an upstanding radius arm connected at its upper end to a forward part of the nipper frame and pivoted at its lower end to rock about an axis located below and to therear of the comb cylinder axis, a nipper knife lever pivotally mounted on the nipper frame and a yieldable, lost-motion Y the comb cylinder axis, a nipper knife lever pivotally mounted on the nipper frame and a yieldable, lost-motion connection between the nipper knife lever and the said Wag shaft.

3. In a comber including a comb cylinder, nipper frame and Wag shaft, the combination `of 'a crank arm` depending from the Wag shaft knife rmly engaged with the cushion plate. It will also be seen that as the Wag shaft oscillates and connected directly to a rear part of the nipper frame, an upstanding radius arm connected at its upper end to a forward part of the nipper' frame and pivoted at its lower end to rock about an axis located below and to the rear of the comb cylinder axis, a nipper knife lever pivotally mounted on the'nipper frame, and a drive connection from the wag shaft to the nipper knife lever.

4. In a comber including a comb cylinder, detaching mechanism, nipper frame and Wag shaft, means for imparting motion to and guiding the nipper frame toward and from the detaching mechanism, comprising: the combination of a` crank arm depending from the Wag shaft and connected directly to a rear part of the nipper frame, and an upstanding radius arm connected at its upper end to a forward part of the nipper frame and pivoted at its lower end to rock about an axis located below and to the rear of the comb cylinder axis.

5. In a comber including a. comb cylinder and a reciprocating nipper frame and a cushion plate carried thereby, the combination of a front support for the frame comprising a pivoted member movable about a center located on one side of the reciprocating path of movement of the cushion plate of the nipper frame, and a rear support for the frame comprising a pivoted member movable about a fixed center located on the opposite side of said path.

6. In a comber of the character described, the combination of an oscillating Wag' shaft, nipper frame and Wag shaft crank connected to the frame for advancing and retracting the same, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the nipper frame and carrying a nipper knife at its forward'end, a coupling element pivoted directly on the rear end of the lever, an abutment on said element, and an actuator element engageable with said abutment and having a direct pivotal connection with a portion of said crank.

JOHN S. DUDLEY.

CARL D. BRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'. are of record in the file of thisl patent:- o l i UNITED` STATES PATENTS Number 'Name Date 481,812' Offermann et al. Aug. 30, 1892 1,516,101 llolly Nov. 18, 1924 1,671,101 Crockett May 29, 1928 2,410,150 i Crockett .10ct. 29., 1946 

